Specialized Playing Card Game

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed herein relates to a game that may be digital or physical in structure that uses a plurality of specialized playing cards that combines pictures and words origin associated with pop culture. These groups of words and pictures work together to create idioms or phrases established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., raining cats and dogs, see the light). Words and pictures are separated in their own suit, the playing cards associated with the game includes but not limited to 100 picture cards in the deck variety and 100 word cards in the deck variety. Each inventive card has displayed on one of its faces either a picture or a word origin and opposite the picture or word origin side are the suits&#39; title side, which displays “word” or “picture”. The picture origin suit of the game is selected from pop culture and includes but not limited to pictures and symbols such as rain cloud, fish, tree, dragon or ball; whereas the word origin suit is selected from pop culture and the group consists of words such as pour, sea, life, fly and play. In addition, there are a number of special and/or assistant cards that help in the play of the game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF CURRENT ART

The present invention relates generally to specialized card games ormore specifically, a digital or physical card game where combining wordsand pictures formulate idioms or phrases that are useful to learn andcalled out when combining words and pictures to win the meld andultimately the game with the most winning number of melds. An examplehere of a winning meld would be a word card spelling: “rain” and apicture card displaying: “a cat and dog”; creating the idiom: “rainingcats and dogs”. In addition, there are multiple or various “house rules”to be implemented by those who love the game, but the premise is tobuild idioms that are not meant to be taken literally, however arereflective of the cultural principles and values behind them. The gamemay be played at various paces so the game can be completed in areasonable time frame, or at least before everyone loses interest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings are intended to be illustrative and symbolicrepresentations of certain exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention and as such they are not necessarily drawn to scale. Inaddition, it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are not anabsolute depiction and the various symbols and markings depicted in thedrawings are exemplary in nature; and thus they may be varied and/orcolored in a variety of different ways (not shown). Finally, figuresand/or reference numerals have been used to designate featuresthroughout the several views of the drawings.

FIG. 1 Illustrates a one dimensional perspective view of both first andsecond suits title sides (picture and word).

FIG. 2 Illustrates a one dimensional perspective view of both first andsecond suits (word and picture) origin sides, where shown an example ofa winning meld and/or idiom a “catch-22”.

FIG. 3 Illustrates a one dimensional perspective view of both first andsecond suits (word and picture) origin sides, where shown examples of atleast two winning melds and/or idioms a “clean break” and “pandora'sbox”.

FIG. 4 Illustrates a one dimensional perspective view of both first andsecond suits (word and picture) origin sides, where shown an example ofa meld and/or idiom where the “WILD” card (specialty card) issubstituted for the word “raining”. The example winning meld shown:“raining cats and dogs”.

FIG. 5 Illustrates a one dimensional perspective view of at least two offirst suit's (picture) origin sides, where shown examples of automaticwinning melds and/or idioms where the (assistance cards) exhibit “goodthings come to those who wait” and “the cat is out of the bag”.

DESCRIPTION Technical Field and Mode of Play

The present invention relates generally to games and, more particularly,to games involving the use of playing cards and/or digital simulatedplaying cards. Specialized playing cards that require the player topass, draw, discard, play and/or combine word cards and picture cardsassociated with the game to make idioms or phrases in order to win thegame with the most sets of combinations. The present inventive card gamecombines intellect, skill, strategy, chance and improves mental acuity.

In other embodiments, the present invention is directed to playing thegames using a plurality of the specialized playing cards or digitalconfiguration described above. In one particular game variant (referredto as a “two person” match) the objective or goal is to compile sevencomplete melds before the opponent, to achieve the highest score to winthe game. In this game variant each of the two players are dealt fourpicture cards and four word cards (a hand) with the banker (the table)receiving from the decks one picture card and one word card presentedupward facing to start the game after (hands) are dealt for each player;a player may utilize the table's upward facing cards, as the same fordiscarded upward facing cards by players. The goal during each round isfor each player to pass, draw, discard, play and/or combine word andpicture cards (melds) until a winning count of allowed combinations hasbeen made. The first player who completes the winning number of cards ofallowed combinations wins the round, and a total score for each round iscalculated based on the combinations of cards. In reference to FIG. 2 ,FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary set of allowedcombinations of cards and would help secure a win for a player withadditional winning melds.

In other embodiments, the present invention is directed to playing thegame in another particular variant (referred to as a “single person”match) where the objective or goal is the same as the aforementioned“two person” match. However, differences are that the dealt cards areface up and the objective or goal is to compile seven complete melds onone side of one's person all while giving turn to the other side ofone's person before the opponent (the table) to achieve the highestscore to win the game.

In another embodiment, the present invention in another particular gamevariant (referred to as “specialty or assistance” card in play) where aspecialty card (wild) may be used to make up any word or picture ofchoice that is not readily available from the decks to make a meld. Andwhereas an assistance card (picture card conveying a complete idiom) maybe used as a single meld; an assistance card is worth one point in andof itself.

In another embodiment, the present invention in another particular gamevariant (referred to as “party play”) where the setting is a group ofpeople and where the objective or goal is to “name that idiom”. To wit,a presenter or opposing groups members select a meld (word and picture)for the group or opposing side to guess the proper idiom that alignswith the displayed combination. In this effort the group or individualsare compiling melds to win the game with the most winning intellectualguesses against the opponents.

In another embodiment, the present invention in another particular gamevariant (referred to as “digital” play) where the game is computer,software or code based. Further, all apply as mentioned above in othervariants. Moreover, where the objective or goal in at least oneapplication is to “name that idiom”. To wit, the application or opposinggroups members select a meld (word and picture) for the a person, groupor opposing side to guess the proper idiom that aligns with thedisplayed combination. In this effort the individual or group arecompiling melds to win the game with the most winning intellectualguesses against the application or opponent.

Background of the Invention

Card games are commonly played by two to four persons with card suitfaces resembling or bearing various Chinese or French symbols anddesigns. The playing cards are typically palm-sized for convenienthandling and are drawn and discarded from a common pile called a deck,until one player wins. A full set of playing cards commonly contains 52cards with each card having a unique symbol painted on its face. Mostcard games involve skill, strategy, and calculation, as well as acertain degree of luck (depending on the variation played, luck can beanything from a minor to a dominant factor in winning). Most card gamesare also popularly played as a gambling game. More specifically, anddepending on the particular variation of the game, each player is dealta number of cards in a hand. On their turn, players draw, play ordiscard at least one card, with the goal of winning.

Patent Citations (28)

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Cited By (1)

Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title FamilyTo Family Citations US20100253000A1 * 2007 Mar. 23 2010 Oct. 07 EvonCreger Method of playing a game to improve a relationship * Cited byexaminer, † Cited by third party, ‡ Family to family citation

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PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS Priority Applications (1)

Application Priority date Filing date Title US10/948,477 2004 Sep. 232004 Sep. 23 Card game

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Filing date Title US 10/948,477 2004 Sep. 23 Card game

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description 2009 Nov. 02 REMI Maintenance fee remindermailed 2010 Mar. 28 LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees 2010Apr. 26 STCH Information on status: patent discontin- uation Free formattext: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR1.362 2010 May 18 FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance Effectivedate: fee 2010 Mar. 28

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In brief, the present invention in one embodiment is directed to a gamethat comprises a plurality of playing cards, wherein each card hasdisplayed on one of its faces a picture, symbol or word origin thatalign with idioms that derived from pop culture. In addition, each cardhas displayed on its second face the title of the first and second suit.Stated somewhat differently, the objective of the game includes but isnot limited to putting together as many word and picture combinations orcomplete sets of idioms or phrases as your hand will allow. An exampleof this sequence comprises but not limited to a picture such as “cloudswith rain” and a word such as “pour.” The player with the advantage ofthis combination may play the hand and convey the idiom “when it rainsit pours,” to acknowledge the claim to that meld, Subsequently movingthe combination to the players accumulating pairs. With each turn, aplayer may pick up a card from either the word suit or picture suit, andthen discards one card placed face up in the center of the table. Atthis point, in succession other players can choose to pass, play, drawor discard a card in accordance to their strategy and the one with themost combinations (melds) and/or empty hand at the end of each set wins.

One embodiment explains that there are at least two suits consisting offace cards displaying “words” and “pictures.” Some cards may as well bea set of other special function cards known as “assistance” cards. Thus,the innovative game of the present invention entwines words and pictureplaying cards associated with idioms of pop culture together withintellect, skill and chance.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become morereadily apparent to those possessing ordinary skill in the art whenreference is made to the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

While the present invention has been described in the context of theembodiments illustrated and described herein, the invention may beembodied in other specific ways or in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. Therefore, thedescribed embodiments are to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescriptions, and all changes that come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

1. A specialized playing card game that comprises digital or physicalattributes and includes but not limited to: a first suit and secondsuit; where said first suit has a plurality of playing cards, each cardhaving first and second faces, with each first face having displayedthereon a picture origin and second face having displayed thereon thesuit title; where said second suite has a plurality of playing cards,each card having first and second faces, with each first face havingdisplayed thereon a word origin and second face having displayed thereonthe suit title; wherein the picture origin suit is selected from atleast a first picture, a second picture, or a third picture; wherein theword origin suit is selected from at least a first word, a second word,or a third word; and wherein the game being further characterized inthat the plurality of playing cards define at least a first, and seconddistinct group of cards; wherein the first group of cards includes afirst plurality of different cards all having pictures different fromeach of the other cards of first group; and wherein the first pluralityof cards may be arranged into two ordered first group rows, with eachfirst group row comprising of a non ordered sequence of picture playingcards of the same group; wherein the second group of cards includes asecond plurality of different cards all having words different from eachof the other cards of second group, and wherein the second plurality ofcards may be arranged into two ordered second group rows, with eachsecond group row comprising of a non ordered sequence of word playingcards of the same group; (a) The game, according to claim 1, furthercomprises 200 playing cards that embody pictures, symbols and words cardorigin. (b) The game, according to claim 1, further comprises a mixtureof pictures, symbols and words of pop culture origin, wherein thepictures, symbols and words are selected from multiple sources thatalign with idioms or phrases of pop culture. (c) The game according toclaim 1, wherein the pictures, symbols and words origin are centrallypositioned on each of the plurality of playing cards first face. (d) Thegame according to claim 1, wherein the title suit name is centrallypositioned on each of the plurality of playing cards second face. (e)The game, according to claim 1, wherein the pictures and words originsuits may comprise specialty and assistance cards. (f) The game,according to claim 1, wherein the picture suit has a first or secondselected color, and the first, second, and third pictures or symbols hasa third, fourth, or fifth selected color, and wherein the first, second,third, fourth, and fifth colors are different from one another. (g) Thegame, according to claim 1, wherein the word suit has a first, second orthird, selected colors, and wherein the color of the selected word isdifferent than the color of the selected face card. (h) The game,according to claim 1, wherein the specialized playing card game may bedigital in structure, where said structure may compromise software,programming languages or application code.
 2. A specialized playing cardgame where the method of playing includes but not limited to: (a)dealing a plurality of word cards and picture cards to each player; (b)dealing one word card and one picture card to table face up at start ofgame; (c) each player in his or her turn may draw a card from deck, playa card from hand to make melds, discard to table upward facing or passhis or her turn entirely; (d) terminating the game based on thepredetermined winning number of melds or first gamer to empty hand. 1.The method of claim 2, wherein the winning number of melds necessary toterminate the game is based on the number of players; one to twoplayers, seven melds and three Or more players, eleven melds.
 2. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the game cannot terminate until the playerhas the predetermined winning number of melds or no cards remaining inhand.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the player must combine picturecards and word cards (melds) to create idioms or phrases to win thegame.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the player must vocally conveythe potential idiom before securing a combination of a winning meld. 5.The method of claim 2, wherein a group setting at least one person (apresenter) may display a picture card and word card where the group mayguess what is the idiom.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the groupsetting a predetermined winning number of guesses terminates the game.